Erik Mercado is the Director of Research Compliance Services for ASU Research Enterprise (ASURE), which provides access to high-level national security research and other programs, and gives faculty access to contracting opportunities with local, state, and federal agencies such as the Department of Defense. Mercado is responsible for ensuring ASURE maintains a strict government compliant and security program, while providing personnel the accesses needed to participate in national security programs.
Mercado has spent the majority of his career supporting the national security community. In his prior role, he served as a Security Manager for The Aerospace Corporation, a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC), where he played a critical role in opening a branch in Utah. Previous employment includes supporting the Utah Test and Training Range (UTTR) as a Facility Security Officer, working as a Security Specialist for the Utah State University Space Dynamics Lab, a Department of Defense University Affiliated Research Center (UARC). His career experience also includes working at Raytheon as a Security Specialist.
Mercado served in the United States Marine Corps. During his military service, he provided security support to The United States Embassies in Rwanda, Chile, and Nepal.